Broadcast replenishment of account parameters for groups of wireless devices

ABSTRACT

A system and method are provided for the broadcast replenishment of account parameters for select groups of wireless devices, where select groups of wireless devices have their internally-stored account parameters (e.g., prepaid amount of usage authorization) simultaneously updated as a group by a single broadcast message, such as an encrypted SMS message. An account update message is generated based on the account parameters to be updated and encrypted using an encryption key uniquely associated with the select group of wireless devices. The encrypted account update message is broadcast for receipt by the select group of wireless devices, such only those wireless devices previously provided with a key for decryption can receive and decrypt the broadcast account update message. The wireless devices use information and/or instructions in the broadcast message in order to update their internally stored account parameters accordingly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the replenishment of accountusage parameters internally stored within a wireless device and, moreparticularly, to the broadcast replenishment of internally storedaccount usage parameters for select groups of wireless devices.

BACKGROUND

Prepaid wireless service (e.g., cellular service) is a form of wirelessservice in which a user must pay in advance for use of the wirelessservice. Typically, a user purchases from a prepaid wireless serviceprovider a definite amount of usage of a wireless network (e.g., numberof airtime minutes, amount of data transfer, number of messages) at aninitially pre-defined exchange of monetary value versus units of usage.These measures of units of usage have commonly been valued as minutes ofusage of the wireless network in the case of airtime minutes. When theuser places or receives a call from their wireless device or otherwiseuses the service, the user's pre-purchased airtime minutes or otherappropriate units of usage are deducted from the user's account. Therate at which pre-purchased units of usage are deducted per unit ofusage is known as the deduct rate. Once the pre-purchased units of usagehave been exhausted, the user is denied service until the user purchasesadditional units or the user's account parameters are otherwisereplenished.

Certain prepaid wireless devices possess internal accountingcapabilities that allow for real-time call debiting of accountparameters that are solely maintained within the wireless device, wheresuch wireless devices include an internal memory which stores the deductrate and a billing algorithm that monitors usage of the wireless deviceand debits the internally stored account parameters accordingly. In thismanner, all accounting operations associated with use of the wirelessdevice are performed within the wireless device itself, as opposed totraditional cell phone billing platforms in which accounts are managed,tracked and billed by components on the network side of the wirelessnetwork. Performing all accounting operations on the wireless deviceitself minimizes the communication traffic required between the wirelessservice provider's host processor that handles billing operations andthe wireless device or other network components, thus reducing networktraffic and congestion and expanding the overall traffic handlingcapacity of the wireless network.

Once prepaid units of usage have been exhausted on a prepaid wirelessdevice possessing internal accounting capabilities, a replenishmentmessage must be sent to the user's wireless device in order to replenishthe user's internal account with additional units of usage. This hastraditionally required individualized replenishment messages to begenerated and transmitted to each specific prepaid wireless device inorder for a wireless service provider to replenish prepaid units ofusage or to update the deduct rate or other account parameters. Forexample, if a wireless service provider needed to replenish accountparameters or update account settings for a large number of wirelessdevices at the same time (e.g., 500,000 users), this would require500,000 individual messages to be generated and transmitted to each ofthe 500,000 wireless devices. These large numbers of individualizedmessages provide a tremendous burden on the service provider to createthe individual messages and also create severe congestion on thewireless network itself to deliver such a large number of individualmessages.

SUMMARY

A system and method for the broadcast replenishment of the accountparameters for select groups of wireless devices are provided. In one ormore embodiments, the system and method include a provisioning serverconfigured to receive a request for or to determine a need for arequired change in internally stored account parameters within a selectgroup of wireless devices associated with a prepaid amount ofauthorization for usage of such wireless devices. An encryption keyassociated with the select group of wireless devices is stored in amemory of the provisioning server or a database accessible by theprovisioning server. The provisioning server retrieves the encryptionkey and generates an encrypted account update message using theretrieved encryption key and the account parameter(s) to be updated. Thesystem is then configured to broadcast the encrypted account updatemessage for receipt by the select group of wireless devices in order toupdate the internally stored account parameters within the group ofwireless devices, such as to replenish their internally stored prepaidamount of authorization for usage. Only those wireless devices in theselect group of wireless devices intended to receive the broadcastmessage are provided with the necessary key to decrypt the encryptedbroadcast message, such that the broadcast encrypted account updatemessage is only able to be received and decrypted by those wirelessdevices within the group of wireless devices previously provided withthe key for decryption.

In one or more embodiments, the broadcast encrypted account updatemessage provides the same prepaid amount of authorization for usage tobe replenished to each wireless device in the select group of wirelessdevices. In one or more embodiments, the encrypted account updatemessage is a Short Message Service (SMS) or Premium Short MessageService (PSMS) message, where appropriate additional components, such asa PSMS Generator, may be coupled to the provisioning server for thegeneration of PSMS message. The Short Message Service (SMS) message maybe broadcast over a predetermined SMS cell broadcast channel subscribedto by the select group the wireless devices.

In one or more embodiments, the encrypted account update message may begenerated to include an identifier such that each broadcast encryptedaccount update message is capable of being differentiated from otherbroadcast messages and acted upon separately by the select group ofwireless devices.

In one or more embodiments, the select group of wireless devices may beconfigured to automatically replenish the internally stored prepaidamount of authorization for usage of the wireless devices on a periodicbasis based on internally stored rules in the event that the broadcastencrypted account update message is not received by any of the wirelessdevices.

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure willbecome more apparent with reference to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless device architecture inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless device in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless device includingcertain programmed software modules in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a system and wireless devices forreplenishing internally stored account parameters on a select group ofwireless devices, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a system and wireless devices forreplenishing internally stored account parameters on a select group ofwireless devices, in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow diagram illustrating a method of generatinga broadcast message for replenishing internally stored accountparameters on a select group of wireless devices in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an operation flow diagram illustrating a method executable ona wireless device for replenishing internally stored account parameterson a select group of wireless devices in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of provisioning server and PSMSgenerator architectures in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description that follows, the various embodiments will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made toparticular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes,and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the claims.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“other embodiments”, “one or more embodiments” or the like means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of thedisclosure. The appearances of, for example, the phrases “in oneembodiment” or “in one or more embodiments” in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of otherembodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may beexhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, variousrequirements are described which may be requirements for someembodiments but not other embodiments.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations.

As used herein, the term “wireless device” is intended to encompass anymobile technology computing device that connects to a wirelesscommunication network and may or may not utilize a UICC/SIM card, suchas mobile phones, cellular phones, smartphones or the like (e.g., AppleiPhone®, Google Android™, BlackBerry®, other type of PDA or smartphone),tablets (e.g., Tablet PC, iPad®, iPod Touch, etc.), wireless dongles, orother mobile computing devices. The term “wireless device” may beinterchangeably used and referred to herein as “wireless handset,”“handset,” “mobile device,” “device,” or “phone.” Further, referenceherein to a “wireless network” or “network” is intended to encompass anytype of wireless network from which a wireless carrier or mobile virtualnetwork operator (MVNO) provides wireless services to a wireless device,such as but not limited to a cellular data network (e.g., Global Systemfor Mobile Communication (GSM), CDMA, UMTS, EVDO, LTE or the like) or awireless wide area network (e.g., WiFi, WiMax).

The word “broadcast” is used herein to mean the transmission of data(messages or information packets) so that it can be received by aplurality or large number of receiving wireless devices.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless device 10 inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Inone or more embodiments, the wireless device 10 may include a display12, an input device 14, a transceiver 16, a processor 18, a memory 20and a UICC/SIM card 22. In one or more embodiments, SIM card 22 may beremovably received within a card slot (not shown) in wireless device 10and may include its own internal SIM memory 24. Memory 20 may include,for example, random access memory (“RAM”) or read only memory (“ROM”),while RAM may be volatile or non-volatile RAM. These various componentswithin wireless device 10 are coupled to communicate data with oneanother, such as through an internal bus 26 or other connectors. In oneexemplary embodiment, wireless device 10 may comprise a mobile phone, asillustrated in FIG. 2, in which display 12 may comprise a screen displayand input device 14 may comprise any one or combination of a keypad 28,track ball 30, selectable buttons 32 and/or a touch screen 34 havingselectable icons. The wireless device 10 includes an antenna coupled totransceiver 16 to facilitate the transmission and receipt of data,messages and communications by wireless device 10.

Although for the sake of clarity and simplicity, an exemplary embodimentof the present invention is described in terms of a prepaid wirelessdevice 10 used in a prepaid mobile communications system, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to this exemplaryembodiment. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may includeany mobile communications device with internally stored rules ofoperation that may be changed together with other mobile communicationsdevices within a select group via a broadcast message received by theselect group of mobile communications devices.

In one or more embodiments, software, processor-executable instructionsand software architectures may be described in terms of certain softwaremodules. For the purposes of this disclosure, a module is a software,hardware, or firmware (or combinations thereof) system, process orfunctionality, or component thereof, that performs or facilitates theprocesses, features, and/or functions described herein (with or withouthuman interaction or augmentation). It should be understood that where aplurality of software modules are described, the functions performed bythe plurality of software modules may alternatively be performed by asingle software module. Similarly, where a single software module isdescribed, the functions performed by the single software module mayalternatively be performed by a plurality of software modules.

Wireless device 10 contains embedded software including modules,programs, processor-executable instructions and/or data storedinternally in memory 20 (or SIM memory 24). In the exemplary embodimentfor a prepaid wireless device 10 in which all accounting functionalityis performed within the wireless device 10, internally stored accountparameters, including a prepaid amount of authorization for usage of thewireless device 10, are also stored internally in memory 20 (or SIMmemory 24). The prepaid amount of authorization for usage of wirelessdevice 10 may include the number of airtime minutes, amount or volume ofdata transfer or other circuit switched or packet switched datatransmission, number of messages (e.g., SMS or MMS messages or thelike), communication rate, number of communications or any other type ofcommunication or data transfer available for use by wireless device 10that may be metered.

The embedded software instructs prepaid wireless device 10 how to handleincoming and outgoing communications (e.g., voice call, messages, datatransfers, etc.), determines an appropriate deduct rate to apply againstthe communication, meters the communication, and applies the deduct rateagainst the metered communication to determine a value to be deductedfrom the stored prepaid amount of authorization for usage of wirelessdevice 10. The stored prepaid amount of authorization is then updated inmemory 20 (or SIM memory 24) of wireless device 10. For example, theembedded software inside the prepaid wireless device 10 deducts prepaidairtime units credit upon usage of wireless device 10. If the user'sprepaid airtime units credit is exhausted, the prepaid wireless device10 may lock itself, denying further use of wireless device 10 untiladditional prepaid airtime credits are provided to wireless device 10(e.g., by the user purchasing additional prepaid airtime credits or thewireless provider otherwise providing additional prepaid airtime creditsto the user). In one or more embodiments, all accounting operationsassociated with use of wireless device 10 are performed within wirelessdevice 10, which assists in reducing network traffic and congestion andexpanding the overall traffic handling capacity of the associatedwireless network by minimizes the communication traffic required betweenthe wireless service provider's host processor that handles billingoperations and wireless device 10 or other network components.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram depicting a softwarearchitecture embedded within wireless device 10 in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. A callprocessor module 100 detects a triggering event such as, for example, aninbound or outbound call. The call processor module 100 obtains certaindata about the call such as, for example, the telephone numberassociated with the call. The call processor module 100 then calls arules engine module 110 to determine the appropriate deduct rate toapply against the stored amount of usage authorization 120 (e.g.,available airtime units credit). The deduct rate is the time rate atwhich air time units credit or other amount of authorization for usageof wireless device 10 is deducted associated with the communication.

Rules engine module 110 applies rules stored in internal memory 20 (orSIM memory 24) to the communication information or call data received bythe call processor module 100. Based on the communication information orcall data, the rules engine module 110 determines the appropriate deductrate to apply against the communication. Rules engine module 110 returnsthe resulting information to the call processor module 100. Based onthese results, the call processor module 100 either allows or prohibitsthe communication, and if the communication is allowed, applies thecorrect deduct rate and deducts from the stored amount of usageauthorization 120 until the communication is ended or the stored amountof usage authorization 120 is exhausted. One manner of programming awireless device 10 to possess such internal accounting functionality isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,141, issued on Oct. 28, 2008 andentitled, “Method and System for Programming Control of MobileCommunication Units,” the contents of which are incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block schematic illustration is provided inaccordance with one or more embodiments of a system 200 for replenishinginternally stored account parameters on a select group of wirelessdevices 10. The system 200 includes a provisioning server 202, which maybe operated by a wireless network operator or a mobile virtual networkoperator (MVNO), capable of provisioning or updating certain servicesand/or parameters of use for select groups of wireless devices 10. Inone or more embodiments, when there is a need, desire or receivedindication to change the internally stored account parameters within theselect group of wireless devices 10 (e.g., a prepaid amount ofauthorization for usage), provisioning server 202 prepares an accountupdate message containing information and/or instructions for modifying,changing or otherwise updating the internally stored account parameterswithin the select group of wireless devices 10. In one or moreembodiments, a Short Message Service (SMS) or Premium Short MessageService (PSMS) generator 204 is coupled to the provisioning server 202for generating an encrypted account update message in the form of anencrypted SMS message based on the account update message prepared bythe provisioning server 202. While the encrypted account update messagewill be described herein as an encrypted SMS message, it is understoodthat other types of encrypted messages known to those skilled in the artcould be utilized that may be broadcast for receipt solely by anintended group of select wireless devices 10.

In one or more embodiments, PSMS generator 204 may be formed as part ofthe same single provisioning server 202 or these components may be partof a server farm or server network, which is a logical group of one ormore servers, either located locally or remotely from one another. Byway of example, there could be multiple servers that may be associatedor connected with each other, or multiple servers could operateindependently, but with shared data. In a further embodiment and as istypical in large-scale systems, application software could beimplemented in components, with different components running ondifferent server computers, on the same server, or some combination.

The encrypted account update SMS message is provided to a Short MessageService Center (SMSC) 206 in communication with the PSMS generator 204for delivery of the encrypted SMS message to the select group ofwireless devices 10. The SMSC 206 is responsible for handling the SMSoperations of the wireless network, where the SMSC 206 queues and routesSMS messages for delivery to wireless devices 10. The SMSC 206 providesthe encrypted SMS message to one or more Home Location Registers (HLRs)208 and base transceiver stations (BTS) 210 (or cell sites) for theencrypted SMS message to be broadcast throughout a broadcast region 212.In one or more embodiments, the encrypted SMS message is broadcast on apredetermined SMS cell broadcast channel. All wireless devices 10 withinthe broadcast region 212 within the select group of select wirelessdevices 10 intended to receive the broadcast encrypted SMS message willbe able to receive, recognize, and decrypt the encrypted SMS message.The information and/or instructions contained within the encrypted SMSmessage will then be applied by each of the wireless devices 10receiving the encrypted SMS message in order to modifying, change orotherwise update the internally stored account parameters within thewireless devices 10. For example, the information and/or instructionscontained within the encrypted SMS message may cause the rules enginemodule 110 or stored amount of usage authorization 120 described aboveto be updated.

Those wireless devices 214 within the broadcast region 212 that are notwithin the select group of wireless devices 10 intended to receive thebroadcast encrypted SMS message will simply ignore or not be able todecrypt the broadcast encrypted SMS message. Thus, the broadcastencrypted SMS message will be benign and not processed by all wirelessdevices 214 not within the select group of wireless devices 10 intendedto receive the broadcast encrypted SMS message. In one or moreembodiments, the select group of wireless devices 10 are initiallyprogrammed with or previously provided with a key that allows suchwireless devices 10 to decrypt the broadcast encrypted SMS message. Forexample, the select group of wireless devices 10 may be preprogrammedwith the required key for decryption prior to their distribution tousers or may alternatively have the key programmed into the wirelessdevices 10 at a later time, such as during activation of the wirelessdevices 10 or through over-the-air (OTA) or direct physical connectionupdates to wireless devices 10.

In one or more embodiments, the system of FIG. 4 and otherwise describedherein can be utilized to replenish stored parameters within each of thewireless devices 10 in the selected group in connection with a prepaidamount of authorization of usage allocated to the wireless devices 10.For example, each of the wireless devices 10 in the selected group maybe provided with the same prepaid metered usage parameter (e.g., samenumber of prepaid airtime minutes, amount or volume of data transfer orother circuit switched or packet switched data transmission, number ofmessages or other metered parameter), where this prepaid metered usageparameter may be replenished on a periodic or other basis. In order toupdate this same prepaid metered usage parameter in each of the wirelessdevices 10 in the selected group, a single encrypted SMS message can bebroadcast within the broadcast region 212 for receipt by each of thewireless devices 10, such that each of the wireless devices 10 in theselected group can updated its internally stored parameters tocorrespond to the same prepaid metered usage parameter requested to beupdated in the encrypted SMS message.

In one or more embodiments, each of the wireless devices 10 in theselected group of wireless devices 10 may be part of a subscription planthat provides an identical prepaid amount of authorization of usageallocated each of the wireless devices 10, where this prepaid amount ofauthorization of usage may be automatically replenished on a periodicbasis. In one or more embodiments, each of the wireless devices 10 inthe selected group may be allocated the same predetermined amount ofmetered prepaid usage periodically (e.g., each month the wirelessdevices 10 may be provided the same number of prepaid airtime minutes,amount or volume of data transfer or number of SMS messages, etc.). Aspart of the subscription plan, the predetermined amount of meteredprepaid usage may be replenished within the wireless devices 10 on aperiodic basis by the internally programming of the wireless devices 10.For example, as part of the prepaid subscription plan, the wirelessdevices 10 may be programmed to automatically replenish the number ofprepaid airtime minutes (or other account parameters) available forusage on the first of each month. If the provider of the prepaidsubscription plan wants to change any of the usage parameters orreplenishment parameters (e.g., changing the deduct rate or number ofprepaid airtime minutes or other usage parameters to be replenished),the provider of the prepaid subscription plan can arrange for a singleencrypted SMS message to be broadcast for receipt by each of thewireless devices 10 in the selected group of wireless devices 10 inorder to update all of their internally stored replenishment parametersusing only a single broadcast SMS message.

In this manner, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide anefficient mechanism for replenishing internally stored accountparameters on groups of wireless devices (e.g., replenishing usageparameters) that require identical updates in a manner thatsignificantly reduces network traffic while reducing overhead costs towireless network operators and plan providers by minimizing the numberof account update messages that need to be generated and delivered.

In one or more embodiments, the present systems and methods describedherein can be utilized to provide wireless devices 10 with identicalprepaid internally stored account parameters to a select group of users,such as but not limited to groups of employees of a company, members ofa family, and/or groups of recipients of free mobile phone services frompublic, private or governmental agencies.

In one exemplary embodiment, prepaid wireless devices 10 and wirelessservices may comprise wireless devices having prepaid accounts providedby public, private or governmental agencies (e.g., Lifeline or otherU.S., state or local government supported programs for low incomeindividuals that are provided free mobile phone services prepaid by thegovernment or private entities). Mobile phones are increasinglyreplacing conventional land line phones, such that many states are nowor will be offering Lifeline or other government supported programs forlow income individuals in the form of mobile phone services in place ofland line phone services. For example, the assignee of the presentapplication offers a program entitled Safelink® in which it provideslow-income individuals with a free mobile phone and free monthly airtime minutes in cooperation with certain states that subsidize theseservices to their low-income residents. Safelink® customers areallocated free monthly air time minutes every month, where such air timeminutes are replenished on a monthly basis. In the past, in order tochange or update the prepaid internally stored account parameters withinthe Safelink® group of wireless devices 10 (e.g., a state agency thatwanted to change the number of free monthly air time minutes to bereplenished on the wireless devices 10 of Safelink® subscribers), it wasnecessary for the wireless services provider to construct and transmit aunique PSMS message per wireless device/subscriber in order to changeany provisioning parameters stored on the wireless device. By way ofexample, if each state were to provide 500,000 of its low-incomeresidents with wireless devices 10 having prepaid airtime minutes thatreplenish monthly and if an average of as few as 3 of the states everymonth perform recalculations of the airtime minutes to be replenished(or other stored metered parameters), then 1.5 million PSMS messageswould need to be uniquely generated and transmitted to the corresponding1.5 million wireless devices 10 (3 states×500,000 wireless devices ineach state) to update the replenishment parameters. The number of uniquePSMS messages that could be required each month could even reach as highas 25 million PSMS messages or more if all of the states decided toperform recalculations of the air time minutes to be replenished in anygiven month. These volumes of PSMS messages would create a massiveburden and expense on backend infrastructure costs and resources to thewireless services provider in addition to overloading the bandwidth andresources of the wireless network and SMSC's.

In contrast, the systems and methods of the various embodimentsdescribed herein can be utilized to provide updates/modifications to theinternally stored account parameters of select groups of wirelessdevices 10 that require identical updates by using a single broadcastmessage, thereby significantly reducing network traffic and overheadcosts to wireless network operators and plan providers.

In one or more exemplary embodiments in which prepaid wireless devices10 are provided to groups of users (e.g., the Safelink® programdescribed above or prepaid wireless devices 10 provided to groups ofemployees by companies, etc.), each group of wireless devices 10 that isintended to have internally stored account parameters (e.g., prepaidamount of authorization of usage to be replenished) changed or modifiedtogether as a group can be assigned its own respective encryption key.Referring now to FIG. 5, in one or more embodiments, each group ofwireless devices 10 may have its corresponding encryption key and otherinformation regarding the group of wireless devices 10 and their usersstored in corresponding user databases 216 a, 216 b, etc. For example,user database 216 a may contain a stored corresponding encryption keyand other information regarding a first group of wireless devices 10while user database 216 b may contain a stored corresponding encryptionkey and other information regarding a second corresponding group ofwireless devices 10 and so. Any number of user databases 216 a, 216 b, .. . 216 n may be provided for up to n number of different respectivegroups of wireless devices 10, where each respective select group ofwireless devices 10 may have its internally stored account parameterschanged or modified in unison as a group separately from the othergroups of wireless devices 10. Alternatively, it is understood that thecorresponding encryption keys and other information regarding multiplegroups of wireless devices 10 may be stored in a single user database216. It is also understood that any or all of the user databases 216 a,216 b, etc. may be stored locally or remotely from provisioning server202 and may be maintained by the operator of the provisioning server 202(e.g., the wireless services provider or MVNO) or by a separate entityrelated to the users in the group of the wireless devices 10 (e.g., eachcompany or state may maintain its own user database 216 that is accessedby provisioning server 202 to retrieve the required encryption key andother information related to a select group of wireless devices 10).

Referring now to FIG. 6, an operational flow diagram is providedillustrating a method for replenishing internally stored accountparameters on a select group of wireless devices in accordance with oneor more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one or moreembodiments, the operational flow of FIG. 6 is an algorithm or one ormore software modules executable by provisioning server 202 and/or othercomponents of the system of FIG. 5 or other figures. Initially inoperation 300, a plurality of wireless devices 10 are provided to aselect group of users, where each wireless device 10 isprogrammed/provisioned with internally stored account parametersassociated with a prepaid amount of authorization for usage of thewireless device 10 and to internally meter usage of the wireless 10 anddeduct the metered usage from the internally stored account parameters,such as described in connection with the FIG. 3.

In operation 302, an indication or a need for a required change in theinternally stored account parameters within the select group of wirelessdevices 10 is determined and/or received by provisioning server 202,such as determining a need to change parameters associated with theprepaid amount of authorization for usage in the select group ofwireless devices 10. In one or more embodiments, this need for arequired change in the internally stored account parameters may bedetermined by inputting new parameters into provisioning server 202 orone of the user databases 216 or by otherwise receiving a notificationdelivered to provisioning server 202. Further, by way of example, theparameters to be changed may relate to the deduct rate stored in therules engine module 110, rules for replenishing an internally storedamount of usage authorization in the rules engine module, an update tothe stored amount of usage authorization 120, or other internally storedparameters.

Once a need for a required change in the internally stored accountparameters within the select group of wireless devices 10 is determined,an encryption key associated with the select group of wireless devices10 is obtained in operation 304, such as by retrieving the correspondingencryption key from one of the user databases 216 a, 216 b associatedwith the select group of wireless devices 10. An encrypted accountupdate message is then generated in operation 306 using the encryptionkey, wherein the contents of the encrypted account update messageinclude instructions and/or information related to the internally storedaccount parameter(s) to be updated or changed in the select group ofwireless devices 10. In one or more embodiments, the encrypted accountupdate message is an encrypted Short Message Service (SMS) message.

In one or more embodiments, the encrypted account update message alsoincludes an identification such that each encrypted account updatemessage that is broadcast is capable of being separately identified andacted upon by the wireless devices 10 from other broadcast messages. Forexample, the SMS cell broadcast system provides for sequence numbersthat could be added to each SMS message to allow the wireless devices 10to track the sequence numbers and ignore previously acted on requests.

The encrypted account update message is then broadcast within at leastone broadcast region 212 in operation 310 for delivery to and receipt bythe select group of wireless devices 10. For example, in the case of anencrypted Short Message Service (SMS) message, network components knownto those skilled in the art for delivering SMS messages to wirelessdevices 10 (e.g., SMSC 206, HLR 208 and BTS 210) may be utilized inaccordance with their known functionality. The encrypted SMS message maybe broadcast over a predetermined SMS cell broadcast channel subscribedto by the group the wireless devices 10. Only those wireless devices 10in the broadcast region 212 in the select group of wireless devices 10will possess the required key to decrypt the encrypted account updatemessage. Upon receipt of the encrypted account update message by theselect group of wireless devices 10, the content within the encryptedaccount update message will be utilized by each of the wireless devices10 to update the internally stored account parameters accordingly. Forexample, when the account parameters to be updated relate to thereplenishment of an internally stored prepaid amount of authorizationfor usage, each of the wireless devices 10 in the select group areprovided with instructions to replenish their internally stored prepaidamount of authorization for usage according to the updated accountparameters. In one or more embodiments, the broadcast encrypted accountupdate message provides the same prepaid amount of authorization forusage to be replenished on each wireless device 10 (or rules forreplenishment) in the group of wireless devices 10.

In one or more embodiments, in order to provide for redundancy in case aparticular wireless device 10 is turned off or out of the broadcastregion 212 when the encrypted account update message is broadcast, thesystems and methods of the present disclosure may be further configuredto broadcast the encrypted account update message at predetermined timeswhen there is a high probability that the wireless devices 10 will beturned on and/or in the broadcast region 212. In other embodiments, foradded redundancy in case there are other transmission or deliveryproblems or in case a particular wireless device 10 is turned off or outof the broadcast region 212 during the original broadcast, the encryptedaccount update message may be rebroadcast. Furthermore, in one or moreembodiments, in case the encrypted account update message is notreceived or any reason, the wireless devices 10 may be programmed withdefault settings that allow continued use of the wireless devices (e.g.,automatic prepaid replenishment settings).

The broadcast encrypted account update message is capable of modifying,changing or updating a variety of different stored internal accountparameters in the select group of wireless devices 10. In one or moreembodiments, the broadcast encrypted account update message may providea one-time addition or replenishment of internally stored accountparameters (e.g., a prepaid amount of authorization for usage of thewireless network) on the select group of wireless devices. In one ormore embodiments, the broadcast encrypted account update message mayprovide an update or modification to internally stored rules within thewireless devices 10 for the periodic replenishment of internally storedaccount parameters (e.g., replenishment of a certain prepaid amount ofauthorization for usage of the wireless network on a monthly basis). Inone or more embodiments, the broadcast encrypted account update messagemay modify or update other internally stored account parameters, such asparameters associated with metered usage of the wireless network (e.g.,modification of the deduct rate, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 7, an operational flow diagram is providedillustrating a method executed on a wireless device 10 for replenishinginternally stored account parameters in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. For example, this method may beexecuted by the call processor module 100, rules engine module 110 oranother software module stored internally in the memory 20 or SIM memory24 of wireless device 10. In operation 320, it is determined whether abroadcast encrypted account update message has been received by wirelessdevice (e.g., over a predetermined SMS cell broadcast channel). If nobroadcast encrypted account update message is received or otherwise isnot applied by the wireless device 10, wireless device 10 may beprogrammed to automatically perform replenishment procedures accordingto stored account parameters in operation 332. For example, internalstored account parameters may provide instructions for wireless device10 to automatically replenish the prepaid amount of authorization forusage of the wireless device 10 on a periodic basis (e.g., wirelessdevice 10 may be programmed to automatically add or replenish 60 prepaidair time minutes to the internal memory area 120 on the first of everymonth).

If the broadcast encrypted account update message is received, it isdetermined in operation 322 whether wireless device 10 contains anappropriate key for decrypting the encrypted account update message.Alternatively, it is otherwise determined in operation whether thebroadcast encrypted account update message is intended for thisparticular wireless device 10. If either wireless device 10 does notpossess an appropriate key to decrypt the broadcast encrypted accountupdate message or if the message is not intended for this particularwireless device 10, then the encrypted account update message is ignoredby the wireless device 10 in operation 326 and replenishment isperformed in operation 332 according to previously stored accountparameters. If the broadcast encrypted account update message isintended for this particular wireless device 10 and an appropriate keyfor decryption is stored within wireless device (e.g., within memory 20or SIM memory 24), then the encrypted account update message isdecrypted in operation 324.

After decryption, it is then determined in operation 328 whether thebroadcast account update message has previously been received andapplied by the wireless device 10. For example, in the situation wherethe broadcast account update message includes a sequence numberidentifier, wireless device 10 can determine whether a message with aparticular identifier has previously been applied. If the broadcastaccount update message has previously been applied, the account updatemessage is ignored by the wireless device 10 in operation 326 andreplenishment is performed in operation 332 using the already storedaccount parameters. If the broadcast account update message had not beenpreviously applied, the account parameters stored within wireless device10 are then updated or modified in operation 330 according to theinstructions and/or information contained within the broadcast accountupdate message. After the stored account parameters have been updated ormodified, replenishment is then performed in operation 332 using thestored account parameters that have been updated or modified inoperation 330.

In one or more embodiments, in the event that a wireless device 10 isturned off during the broadcast, outside of the broadcast region 212 orotherwise does not receive the broadcast account update message,wireless device 10 will revert back to the previously programmed andstored account parameters to perform replenishment without the updatedsettings. This continuation of previously stored replenishmentprocedures prevents the wireless device 10 from becoming rendereddisabled or unusable in the event that a broadcast account updatemessage is not received.

In one or more embodiments, the methods and algorithms described invarious embodiments herein may be implemented in software, stored on acomputer readable medium or computer readable storage medium, such as amemory of provisioning server 202 and/or PSMS generator 204 and/or othersystem components, where the memory (or memories of these components)may store computer readable instructions, e.g., program code, that canbe executed by a processor or controller to carry out one or more of thetechniques described herein.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating internal architectures of anexample computing devices for provisioning server 202 and PSMS generator204, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Provisioning server 202 and PSMS generator 204 are referredto herein refers to any computer or device with a processor capable ofexecuting logic or coded instructions, and could be a server, personalcomputer, set top box, smart phone, pad computer or media device, toname a few such devices. As shown in the example of FIG. 8, the internalarchitecture of provisioning server 202 and PSMS generator 204 includeone or more processors 402 (or CPUs), which interface with at least onecomputer bus 404. Also interfacing with computer bus 404 are persistentstorage medium/media 406, network interface 408, memory 410, e.g.,random access memory (RAM), run-time transient memory, read only memory(ROM), etc., media disk drive interface 412 as an interface for a drivethat can read and/or write to media including removable media such asfloppy, CD ROM, DVD, etc. media, display interface 414 as interface fora monitor or other display device, at least one input interface 416(e.g., keyboard interface, mouse or other pointing device interface,etc.), and miscellaneous other interfaces not shown individually, suchas parallel and serial port interfaces, a universal serial bus (USB)interface, and the like.

Memory 410 interfaces with computer bus 404 so as to provide informationstored in memory 410 to processor 402 during execution of softwareprograms such as an operating system, application programs, devicedrivers, and software modules that comprise program code,processor-executable instructions and/or computer executable processsteps, incorporating functionality described herein, e.g., one or moreof process flows described herein. For example, the operations andprocess flows performed by provisioning server 202 may be embodied in aprovisioning module 418 stored in memory 410 of provisioning server 202and the operations and process flows performed by PSMS generator 204 maybe embodied in a PSMS generator module 420 stored in memory 410 of PSMSgenerator 204. It is understood that provisioning module 418 and PSMSgenerator module 420 may both be stored in the memory of the same device(e.g., provisioning server 202) when the operations of both provisioningserver 202 and PSMS generator 204 are embodied in a single device.Processor 402 loads processor-executable process steps from storage,e.g., memory 420, storage medium/media 406, removable media drive,and/or other storage device. Processor 402 can then execute the storedprocess steps in order to execute the loaded processor-executableprocess steps. Stored data, e.g., data stored by a storage device, canbe accessed by processor 402 during the execution ofprocessor-executable process steps. Persistent storage medium/media 406is a computer readable storage medium(s) that can be used to storesoftware and data, e.g., an operating system and one or more applicationprograms, device drivers, and/or program modules and data files used toimplement one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

For the purposes of this disclosure, a computer readable medium storescomputer data, which data can include computer program code that isexecutable by a processor of the wireless device 10, provisioning server202, PSMS generator 204 or other computing device, in machine readableform. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer readable mediummay comprise computer readable storage media, for tangible or fixedstorage of data, or communication media for transient interpretation ofcode-containing signals. Computer readable storage media, as usedherein, refers to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to signals)and includes without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable andnon-removable storage media implemented in any method or technology forthe tangible storage of information such as computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computerreadable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, opticalstorage media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other physical or materialmedium which can be used to tangibly store the desired information ordata or instructions and which can be accessed by a processor orcomputing device. In one or more embodiments, the actions and/or eventsof a method, algorithm or module may reside as one or any combination orset of codes and/or instructions on a computer readable medium ormachine readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computerprogram product.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods and systems ofthe present disclosure may be implemented in many manners and as suchare not to be limited by the foregoing exemplary embodiments andexamples. In other words, functional elements being performed by singleor multiple components, in various combinations of hardware and softwareor firmware, and individual functions, may be distributed among softwareapplications at either the client or server or both. In this regard, anynumber of the features of the different embodiments described herein maybe combined into single or multiple embodiments, and alternateembodiments having fewer than, or more than, all of the featuresdescribed herein are possible. Functionality may also be, in whole or inpart, distributed among multiple components, in manners now known or tobecome known. Thus, myriad software/hardware/firmware combinations arepossible in achieving the functions, features, interfaces andpreferences described herein. Moreover, the scope of the presentdisclosure covers conventionally known manners for carrying out thedescribed features and functions and interfaces, as well as thosevariations and modifications that may be made to the hardware orsoftware or firmware components described herein as would be understoodby those skilled in the art now and hereafter.

While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to thedisclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications andsimilar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims,the scope of which may be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and similar structures. The presentdisclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for replenishing internally storedaccount parameters on a select group of wireless devices, the methodcomprising: providing a group of wireless devices, each wireless devicehaving internally stored account parameters associated with a prepaidamount of authorization for wireless usage of the wireless device;determining a need for a required change in at least one internallystored account parameter associated with the prepaid amount ofauthorization for wireless usage of the wireless device in the selectgroup of wireless devices; obtaining an encryption key uniquelyassociated with the group of wireless devices; generating an encryptedaccount update message using the encryption key and the selected atleast one account parameter to be changed that includes the prepaidamount of authorization for wireless usage of the wireless device; andbroadcasting the encrypted account update message for receipt by thegroup of wireless devices in order to update the internally storedaccount parameters within the group of wireless devices to replenishtheir internally stored prepaid amount of authorization for wirelessusage of the wireless device, wherein the broadcast encrypted accountupdate message is only able to be received and decrypted by thosewireless devices within the group of wireless devices.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein each of the wireless devices are configured toautomatically replenish the internally stored prepaid amount ofauthorization for usage of the wireless device on a periodic basis basedon internally stored rules regardless of whether the broadcast encryptedaccount update message is received by any of the wireless devices. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast encrypted account updatemessage provides the same prepaid amount of authorization for usage ofthe wireless device to be replenished on each wireless device in thegroup of wireless devices.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theencrypted account update message is a Short Message Service (SMS)message.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting theShort Message Service (SMS) message over a predetermined SMS cellbroadcast channel subscribed to by the group the wireless devices. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the group ofwireless devices with a decryption key capable of decrypting thebroadcast encrypted account update message.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising including an identification within the encryptedaccount update message such that each broadcast encrypted account updatemessage is capable of being separately identified and acted upon by thewireless devices.
 8. A system for replenishing internally stored accountparameters on a select group of wireless devices, comprising: means fordetermining a need for a required change in at least one internallystored account parameter associated with a prepaid amount ofauthorization for wireless usage of the wireless device in the selectgroup of wireless devices; means for obtaining an encryption keyuniquely associated with the group of wireless devices; means forgenerating an encrypted account update message using the encryption keyand the selected at least one account parameter to be changed thatincludes the amount of authorization for wireless usage of the wirelessdevice; and means for broadcasting the encrypted account update messagefor receipt by the group of wireless devices in order to update theinternally stored account parameters within the group of wirelessdevices to replenish their internally stored prepaid amount ofauthorization for wireless usage of the wireless device, wherein thebroadcast encrypted account update message is only able to be receivedand decrypted by those wireless devices within the group of wirelessdevices.
 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means forautomatically replenishing the internally stored prepaid amount ofauthorization for usage of the wireless devices on a periodic basisbased on internally stored rules regardless of whether the broadcastencrypted account update message is received by any of the wirelessdevices.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the broadcast encryptedaccount update message provides the same prepaid amount of authorizationfor usage of the wireless device to be replenished on each wirelessdevice in the group of wireless devices.
 11. The system of claim 8,wherein the encrypted account update message is a Short Message Service(SMS) message.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the means forbroadcasting is further configured for broadcasting the Short MessageService (SMS) message over a predetermined SMS cell broadcast channelsubscribed to by the group the wireless devices.
 13. The system of claim8, further comprising means for providing the group of wireless deviceswith a decryption key capable of decrypting the broadcast encryptedaccount update message.
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the means forgenerating an encrypted account update message is further configured forincluding an identification within the encrypted account update messagesuch that each broadcast encrypted account update message is capable ofbeing separately identified and acted upon by the wireless devices. 15.A system for replenishing internally stored account parameters on aselect group of wireless devices, comprising: a database containing anencryption key uniquely associated with the group of wireless devices; aprovisioning server comprising a processor and a readable storage mediacoupled to the processor for tangibly storing thereon instructionsexecutable by the processor to perform operations comprising:determining a need for a required change in at least one internallystored account parameter associated with a prepaid amount ofauthorization for wireless usage of the wireless device in the selectgroup of wireless devices; obtaining the encryption key from thedatabase associated with the group of wireless devices; generating anencrypted account update message using the encryption key and theselected at least one account parameter to be changed that includes theamount of authorization for wireless usage of the wireless device; andbroadcasting the encrypted account update message for receipt by thegroup of wireless devices in order to update the internally storedaccount parameters within the group of wireless devices to replenishtheir internally stored prepaid amount of wireless authorization forusage of the wireless device, wherein the broadcast encrypted accountupdate message is only able to be received and decrypted by thosewireless devices within the group of wireless devices.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, further comprising means for automatically replenishing theinternally stored prepaid amount of authorization for usage of thewireless devices on a periodic basis based on internally stored rulesregardless of whether the broadcast encrypted account update message isreceived by any of the wireless devices.
 17. The system of claim 15,wherein the broadcast encrypted account update message provides the sameprepaid amount of authorization for usage of the wireless device to bereplenished on each wireless device in the group of wireless devices.18. The system of claim 15, wherein the encrypted account update messageis a Short Message Service (SMS) message.
 19. The system of claim 15,further comprising stored instructions executable by the serverprocessor for broadcasting the Short Message Service (SMS) message overa predetermined SMS cell broadcast channel subscribed to by the groupthe wireless devices.
 20. The system of claim 15, further comprisingstored instructions executable by the server processor for including anidentification within the encrypted account update message such thateach broadcast encrypted account update message is capable of beingseparately identified and acted upon by the wireless devices.
 21. Amethod for updating internally stored account parameters on a selectgroup of wireless devices, the method comprising: selecting at least oneaccount parameter stored internally within a wireless device to beupdated on a select group of wireless devices, wherein the at least oneaccount parameter comprises an amount of authorization for wirelessusage of the wireless device; obtaining an encryption key associatedwith the group of wireless devices; generating an encrypted accountupdate message using the encryption key and the selected at least oneaccount parameter to be updated; and broadcasting the encrypted accountupdate message for receipt by the group of wireless devices in order toupdate the internally stored account parameters within the group ofwireless devices, wherein the broadcast encrypted account update messageis only able to be received and decrypted by those wireless deviceswithin the group of wireless devices.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the selected account parameter to be updated comprises a prepaidamount of authorization for usage of the wireless device to bereplenished on the wireless device.
 23. The method of claim 22, whereinthe broadcast encrypted account update message provides the same prepaidamount of authorization for usage of the wireless device to bereplenished on each wireless device in the group of wireless devices.24. The method of claim 21, wherein the encrypted account update messageis a Short Message Service (SMS) message.
 25. The method of claim 21,further comprising broadcasting the Short Message Service (SMS) messageover a predetermined SMS cell broadcast channel subscribed to by thegroup the wireless devices.
 26. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising providing the group of wireless devices with a decryption keycapable of decrypting the broadcast encrypted account update message.27. The method of claim 21, further comprising including anidentification within the encrypted account update message such thateach broadcast encrypted account update message is capable of beingseparately identified and acted upon by the wireless devices.